There was a stir in Samastipur after VVPAT slips were found on the road, Election Commission took this action

News Topical, Digital Desk : On Saturday (November 8), a commotion erupted in the Sarairanjan Assembly constituency of Samastipur district in Bihar when VVPAT slips were found along the KSR College road. A large number of these slips were found discarded. Top administrative officials immediately arrived at the scene. The slips were confiscated in the presence of candidates from various parties. An FIR has been registered in connection with the incident. The district administration has also suspended the officials responsible for the negligence. 

The Samastipur district administration was thrown into a panic when information was received that thousands of VVPAT slips were lying in a garbage heap in Gudma village, Sarairanjan Assembly constituency. District administration teams immediately arrived at the scene. The District Election Officer-cum-District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police of Samastipur also inspected the site. Assembly candidates were also called to the scene.

The District Magistrate initiated administrative action on the incident.

The administrative team at the scene seized the VVPAT slips and began further investigation. District Magistrate Roshan Kushwaha stated that information was received that VVPAT slips had been found in a garbage heap in the Sarairanjan police station area. He stated that this was a technical matter and that everything would become clear after an investigation.

He also said that a mock poll is also conducted during commissioning. Approximately 5 percent of the machines conduct a 1,000-person mock poll, where candidates press each button to verify the symbol during commissioning.

The district administration gave this information through a post.

On Saturday (8.11.2025), a case of finding shredded and unshredded election-related slips in a garbage heap in the village of Gudma, under the Sarairanjan police station, came to light. The District Election Officer-cum-District Magistrate, Samastipur, and the Superintendent of Police, Samastipur, immediately arrived at the scene and inspected the site. 

He further stated that the said slips were duly confiscated in the presence of candidates from various parties. The said location is located approximately 500 meters from the Dispatch Center in the Sarairanjan Assembly constituency. A formal FIR has been registered at the Sarairanjan police station in connection with the incident and the necessary investigation is underway. The district administration is suspending the negligent personnel.

What did Samastipur SP say on the incident?

Samastipur's SP issued a statement saying, "On Saturday, a case came to light in which some cut and uncut election slips were found in a garbage heap in village Gudma under Sarairanjan police station. All the slips were confiscated in the presence of candidates from various parties. This place is about 500 meters away from the dispatch center located in Sarairanjan assembly constituency."

He further said, "In connection with this incident, an FIR has been registered at Sarairanjan police station and necessary action is being taken. The district administration is suspending the negligent personnel."

RJD responded

The RJD has raised questions about this incident. A post on the social media platform "X" read, "A large number of VVPAT slips were found in the Sarairanjan assembly constituency of Samastipur. When, how, why, and at whose behest were these slips thrown away? Will the Thief Commission answer this? Is this all happening at the behest of a robber of democracy who has come from outside and is camping in Bihar?"

Read More: CIK tightens security crackdown in Srinagar-Kupwara jails, seizes mobile phones and banned items